Method and apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for charging extrudable priming compositions into priming containers comprising extruding means, rotatable conveying means for the containers, and intermediate rotatable transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the composition from the extruding means to the container to be charged.

United States Patent [191 Staba r g 1 June 28, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC CHARGING OF PRIMER CONTAINERS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Olin Corporation, New Haven,

Conn.

22 Filed: May 15, 1972 21 Appl. No; 253,481

Edward A. Staba, Higganum, Conn.

[52] US. Cl 141/190, 141/98, 222/216, 264/268, 425/244, 425/259, 425/261 [51] Int. Cl B65b 43/50 [58] Field of Search 141/1, 12, 98, 129, 130, 141/183, 190; 425/244, 259, 261; 264/267,

[56] t References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,946 5/1915 Baird ..425/261X 1,171,301 2/1916 Baird 425/261 X 2,366,379 1/1945 Bemio 222/221 2,694,845 11/1954 Montague 425/261 3,098,297 7/1963 DeBoern 425/261 X 3,620,264 11/1971 Klein t 141/1 3,633,245 1/1972 Partos 425/259 X 3,656,517 4/1972 Taylor et a1 141/1 Primary Examiner-I-louston S. Bell, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerCharles Gorenstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald R. Motsko; William W. Jones; H. Samuel Kieser [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for charging extrudable priming compositions into priming containers comprising extruding means, rotatable conveying means for the containers, and intermediate rotatable transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the composition from the extruding means to the container to be charged.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC CHARGING OF PRIMER CONTAINERS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for the automatic charging of extrudable priming compositions into primer containers.

The conventional I processes for the charging of primer containers involve filling holes in a perforated charge plate resting on the table by manually sweeping or rubbing a bulk priming composition over the surface of the charge plate. After the holes and the charge plate are filled, the excess mixture of priming composition is 1 scraped off the surface of the plate leaving the cavities with water, has a pasty or muddy consistency, and is not free flowing. Although a perforated charge plate'is used for forming small unit charges in the case of either dry or wet priming composition, the manufacturing process differs thereafter due to the difference in the flow characteristics of the two types of priming compositions.

. v.With drypriming, the table on which the perforated charge plate rests is arranged so that it may be shifted laterally to bring matching holes in alignment with the charge plate. These holes in the table serve as conduits which allow the dry unit charges to drop into primer containers which are oriented mouth upwards in a holding plate having hole spacing which coincides with that of the charge plate and table. The table plate thus acts as a valve plate.

The use of dry priming compositions is advantageous in many respects. Good charge weight uniformity can be obtained and the priming composition can be immediately used after charging as no drying is required. In

addition, dry priming composition exhibit a uniformly good level of sensitivity. However, these advantages are nullified by one large disadvantage, that is hazard. Every operation involving dry priming is exceedingly dangerous. The possibility of temperature rise as a result of heat developed by abrasion, percussion, or even a direct application of flame makes the possibility of an explosion very prevalent. It is for this reason that dry priming has almost been completely replaced by the wet priming process.

While wet priming overcomes the problem of a possible explosion, this process, as currently practiced, entails the chief disadvantage of excessivevariation in the weight of the pellets of the priming charge. A water-wet priming composition does not fall into the cavities in a charge plate as does a dry priming composition. It must be worked into the holes by vigorous manual kneading and rubbing with a suitable instrument. There is no standard technique for this process step, and it varies from operator to operator, and even a given operator varies his motion from plate to plate. The entire charging process is messy in that the muddy mixture is smeared over the charge table, the charge plate, the rubbing instrument, and the operators hands. This operation does not lend itself to neatness, and because of its messiness, there is a tendency for operators to be careless and inaccurate.

In addition to the very real human sources of variation and error in the wet priming process; there are a number of physical and mechanical factors inherent in the process that render attainment of a suitable level of charge weight uniformity difficult to attain. A wet priming composition cannot be prepared and stored with the amount of water required to provide sufficient fluidity to permit easy rubbing into the holes of the charge plate. It is usually mixed and stored in a moist rather than a wet condition which corresponds to a water content from about 12 to 14 percent by weight of the solids. Prior to charging, additional water is sprinkled onto the mass of priming composition in a random manner by the charger, and superficially blended into the mass until, on the basis of appearance, and the operators judgement, it is wet enough to charge. In this manner the water content is brought up to about 16-20 percent by weight of the solids. If a typical priming composition is prepared and stored with 16-20 percent water, phase separation will occur, wherein the solids settle to the bottom of a storage container in a dense mass, while a layer of water appears at the surface. When this occurs, the settled solids are so firmly packed in the bottom of the container that removal becomes very difficult and dangerous. This phase separation is avoided on the charge table because the kneading, rubbing, and scraping action to which the priming composition is subjected provides a re-blending effect.

The variable water content of the priming composition as used in charging is a source of considerable variation in the weight of the priming pellets formed. Besides effecting theactual composition of the mixture, the variable water content is also responsible for variation in the fluidity of the mixture, and the relative ease with which it flows when it is rubbed over the surface of the charge plate. The water content also effects the fit of the random shaped solid particles with respect to each other, which causes variation in the volume of the interstitial voids in the granular pellet mass.

vIt is pointless to attempt more precise control of the water content of the spring composition on the charge table by adding measured amounts of water in conditioning the mixture preparatory to charging since there is continuous evaporative loss of water while the operation is in progress under usual conditions.

A mechanical source of variation in the weight of the priming pellets in the' water wet process is due to the scraping operation when excess mixture is removed from the surfaces of the charge plate after the holes have been rubbed full of the mixture. The tool used for this purpose is generally a thin metal blade with a straight edge. The operator drags this straight edge across the surface of the charge plate striking off the surplus mixture protruding from the holes. Ideally, a cylindrical pellet having a height precisely equal to the thickness of the charge plate would result from this operation. In practice, however, this condition is difficult to obtain and is impractical to attempt as the time involved in so doing would be prohibited.

Two physical phenomena are involved here. As the straight edge of the scraper travels across the surface of the pellet, with the charge plate still resting on the table, mixture accumulates ahead of it and is removed from the pellet surface, but some of this mixture rides under the edge of the blade and rises behind it and continues to protrude above the level of the charge plate surface. This might be described as the screed effect and a similar problem is commonly encountered when the surplus concrete is removed from a filled form by.

sliding the edge of a plank which rides on the form members across the surface of the fluid concrete. The plank used for this purpose is known as a screed, and one pass of it over the surface never removes all the excess because some of the fluid concrete always passes under the screed and rises behind it. With repeated passes, the desired condition is approached asymptotically.

The other phenomena takes place when the filled charge plate is lifted from the surface of the charge table. The operator may scrape the lower surface of the charge plate to remove the excess priming composition protruding above the plate surface on this side. The amount involved here is small if the charge plate is flat all over, but this condition rarely exists. When the operator scrapes one side of the charge plate with the other side unsupported, in addition to removing some of the excess, he causes the pellets to protrude from the opposite side. This could be described as the flip-flop effect. With repeated passes of the scraper over both surfaces of the charge plate, the desired condition is approached, again asymptotically.

Although there are other factors that limit the precision attainable in the wet priming charging process, the foregoing discussion should suffice to illustrate the basic physical limitations and the crudeness of the conventional wet priming process. Most of the factors mentioned above do not apply to the dry charging process and better charge weight uniformity is attainable by that process. However, whatever advantages the dry charging process might offer, the extreme hazards involved in its use limits it applicability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for charging primer containers wherein the uniformity of priming charges, from unit to unit, is quite consistent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for charging primer containers which eliminates the sources of variation in the weight of primer charges from unit to unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for charging primer containers which is characterized by a high degree of safety.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for charging primer containers which have a high degree of versatility and which lend themselves to automation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be accomplished, generally speaking, by extruding a plastic extrudable priming composition through an orifice into a transfer means. A primer container is supported at a point remote from the extrusion means. A predetermined volume of the priming composition on the transfer means is transferred from the orifice to a point adjacent the supported primer container and the priming composition discharged into the primer container.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention may include means for extruding a plastic priming composition through an orifice. Means are provided for supporting a primer container at a location remote from the extrusion means and transfer means may be included for holding and transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from the orifice to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means. Means are included for causing the discharge of the primer composition in the transfer means into the primer container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention, said view taken along the lines ll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken in the direction indicated by the lines 33 of FIG; 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge mechanism used in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The method and apparatus of the present invention utilizes a plastic priming composition which is capable of being extruded, and which is more fully described below. The priming composition 2 is placed within a container 4. The open end 6 of container 4 is removeably connected to an L-shaped extrusion block 8 and is in communication with the bore 10 in the block 8.

A pneumatic pump 12 or other pressure applying device acts on the priming composition 2 in the container 4 and forces it through the bore 10 into a priming composition transfer mechanism 14. The transfer mechanism 14 includes a plurality of apertures 16 for the reception of priming composition.

The open end of the bore 8 includes a counterbore 18 in which is mounted a grommet 20 of rubber or other suitable material. The grommet 20 is held in place by a washer 22 and spanner nut 24 threadedly connected to the wall of the bore 8. The grommet 20 has a bore therethrough which is reduced at its outer end to form an extrusion orifice 26.

The transfer mechanism 14 includes a transfer disc 28 mounted for rotation about a spindle 30. The disc 28 is connected for rotational movement with a pinion 32 by a sleeve 34. The sleeve 34 and pinion 32 also rotate about the spindle 30. The plurality of apertures 16 in the disc 28 are evenly spaced about the perimeter of an imaginary circle and are spaced radially outwardly from the spindle 30 so that they can be rotated into alignment with the orifice 26 in the extrusion block 8. The wall of each aperture 16 is frusto-conical with the largest diameter facing theorifice 26. The bottom surface of the transfer disc 28 is substantially flush with the surface of the extrusion block 8. The grommet 20 is so sized as to extend slightly above the adjacent area of the extrusion block 8. With the assembly complete, however, it is compressed downwardly by the transfer disc 28 to ensure a tight seal between the disc 28 and grommet 20 to prevent leakage and ensure good wiping action.

' A pressure foot 36 closes the top of the aperture 16 in the disc28 during the feeding operation. The pressure foot 36 includes a threaded rod 38 threadily connected to a top retaining plate 40 and extending therethrough. A tubular member 42 having a bore 44 therethrough with an intermediate flange 46 therein,"is slidably mounted over the bottom end of. the rod 38. A pressure pad 48 is mounted in the bottom of the bore 44 in member 42 and extends from the flange 46 out from the member 44 to the disc 28. The pad 48 is preferably made from polytetrafluroethylene or other suitable material which has a relatively low coefficient of friction and to which the priming composition will not readily adhere. A spring member 49 extends between the end of the rod 38 and the flange 46 in the tubular member 42 to bias the pad 48'against the disc 28. The

. top of the rod 38 is provided with a slot 50 to receive a suitable implement to turn the rod 38 in the retainer plate 40 so it can be moved up and down to vary the pressure the pad 48 exerts on the disc 28. This pressure should be substantially equal to the pressure of the extruded priming composition.

The priming containers are moved into position for receiving a charge of priming composition by a carrier mechanism 52. In accordance with the preferred embodiment the carrier mechanism 52 is shown in conjunction with a rimfire cartridge primer spinning and pressing machine. This machine includes vertically extending frame members 54 in which a spinning and pressing mechanism 56 is mounted for reciprocating movement. Movement is imparted to the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 by means of a crankshaft 58 which is driven by a suitable motor (not shown) connected thereto by a belt and pulley arrangement 60. A

connecting rod.6 2 connects the crankshaft 58 to the spinning and pressing mechanism 56.

The carrier mechanism 52 includes a central shaft 64 on which a dial member 66 is mounted for rotation. The'dial member has a plurality of semi-circular cutouts 68 in its edge to receive the body of.a priming container, which-in the present caseis shown as a rimfire cartridge case 69. The outer portion of the bottom surface of the dial member 66 is undercut as indicated by numeral 70 to provide room for the rim portion 71 of the cartridge shell 69. Also mounted for rotation on the shaft 64 immediately under the dial member 66 is a shell carrier plate 72 on which the bottom of the cartridge cases rest when engaged by the dial member 66. A guide rail 73 holds the cartridges in the cutouts 68 of the dial member 66 as it rotates. A gear 74 is mounted for rotation on shaft 64 below the plate 72. The gear 74 meshes with the pinion 32 associated with the transfer mechanism 14. Aratchet wheel 76 is rotatably mounted on shaft 64 below the gear 72. The ratchet wheel 76, gear 74, plate 72 and dial member 66 are held together byscrew members 78 or other suitable means so that they rotate as-a unit.

, A spacer member 80 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 64 and has a lever arm 82 extending therefrom. A pawl member 84 is mounted on the lever arm 82 and engages the teeth of the ratchet whee1 76 when the lever arm is pivoted about the shaft 64 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to rotate the carrier mechanism 52.

Rotation of the carrier mechanism 52 is provided by means of a series of linkages between the crankshaft 58 and the lever arm 82. A lever 85 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a pivot pin 86 connected to the vertical frame 54. One end of the lever is operably connected to the end of the crankshaft 58 by a pin 88 attached to the crankshaft 58 and which extends into a slot 90 in the lever 85. The other end of the lever 85 is operably attached to an intermediate member 92 which in turn is operably attached to the end of the lever arm 82.

.When the crankshaft 58 begins clockwise rotation as viewed in FIG. 3, during the first 180 of travel, the lever 85 is rotated clockwise (FIG. 3) about pivot pin 88 causing intermediate member 92 to move forward as viewed in FIG. 2 causing lever arm 82 to' rotate clockwise (FIG. 2) about the shaft 64. As the lever arm 82 rotates in this direction, the pawl member 84 slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 76. Additional rotation of the crankshaft 58.causes the lever 85 to move in the opposite direction so that lever arm 82 is rotated counterclockwise (FIG. 2) and the pawl member engages the ratchet wheel 76 and rotates the carrier mechanism 52 one space so that the next primer container is moved into position for reception of priming composition and also the next primer container is brought into position for the spinning and pressing operation.

Since the gear 74 of the carrier mechanism 52 engages the pinion 32 of the transfer mechanism 14, the transfer mechanism 14 will be rotated at the same time as the carrier mechanism 52, although in an opposite direction. The ratio of the radius of the gear 72 t0 the radius of the pinion 32 should be selected so that the transfer mechanism 14 is moved one space and the next aperture 16 in the disc 28 is moved into alignment with the extrusion orifice 26.

To ensure exact indexing of the disc 28 with respect to the orifice 26 and the discharge station a positive indexing mechanism 94 is provided. This indexing mechanism 94 includes an indexing pawl 96 having a tapered forward end 98. The disc 28 is provided with correspondingly tapered cutouts 100 in its periphery, one for each of the apertures 16, with each cutout being spaced in radial alignment with its corresponding aperture. The indexing pawl 96 is mounted so that it will engage a cutout 100 and exactly position and positively hold the disc 28 so that proper alignment of one of the apertures 16 with the extrusion orifice 26 as well as one of the apertures 16 with the discharge station is ensured.

Movement of the pawl 96 into and out of the cutouts 100 is controlled through a series of linkages by a cam 102 mounted on the crankshaft 58. The cam 102 acts on a lever 104 which is pivotally connected to one of the frame members 54 by a pivot pin 106. The bottom end portion of the lever 104 is connected to a member 108 which in turn is connected to one end of a lever 110 which is pivotally attached to the frame 54 at a point intermediate its ends by pin 112. The other end of the lever 1 10 is connected to the rearward end of the pawl 96 which is mounted for axial reciprocal movement in a housing 114.

A spring member 116 biases the pawl 96 into a cutout 100 in the disc 28. The enlarged cam portion 117 of the cam 102 does not act on the lever 104 until the crankshaft 58 has rotated more than and the transfer mechanism 14 is about to begin to rotate. At

that point, the enlarged cam portion 117 causes the lever 104 to pivot clockwise about pin 106 (FIG. 3)

driving member 108 to the left, or as viewed in FIG. 4 forwardly. This movement causes lever 110 to pivot clockwise about pin 112 (FIG. 2) moving the pawl 96 to the rear and out of the cutout 100 in the disc 28. After sufficient rotation of the crankshaft 58 to the point where the transfer mechanism 14 is no longer being rotated, the enlarged cam portion 118 no longer acts upon the lever 104 and the spring 116 urges the pawl 96 forward (FIG. 2) into a cutout 100 in the disc 28.

The discharge mechanism 118 for discharging the priming composition from an aperture 16 in the disc 28 into a primer container includes a body member 120 having a cap 122 attached to its upper end portion. A needle-like projection 130 is threadedly secured within a bore 132 in the bottom end of the body member 120 and extends downwardly therefrom. The body member 120 is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement in an aperture 134 in an upper retaining plate 136. The needle-like projection 130 extends through an aperture 138 in a bottom retaining member 140. A nut member 142 is attached to the projection 130 immediately adjacent the bottom end of the body member 120. A spring member 144 extends between the cap 122 and the plate 136 to bias the body member 120 and the attached projection 130 upwardly into the rest position with the nut member 142 serving as a stop member as it abuts the underside of the retaining plate 136.

The body member 120 and projection 130 are provided with an axial bore 146. A transverse bore 148 provides communication through the cap 122 between the axial bore 146 and a fluid supply hose 150. The fluid supply hose 150 is connected to the outlet side of a valve member 152. The inlet portion 154 of the valve member 152 is connected to a suitable supply of fluid such as compressed air. The valve member 152 is normally shut and is opened only when a suitable linkage 155 is engaged by the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 near the bottom of its downward stroke.

The discharge mechanism 118 is aligned with one aperture 16 in the disc 28 when the disc 28 is at rest. That aperture in turn is positioned over one of the primer containers in the carrier mechanism 52 with this position constituting the discharge station. A striker 156 is mounted on the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 and is adapted to strike the top of the cap 122 of the discharge mechanism 118 during its downward stroke to force the needle-like projection 130 of the discharge mechanism 118 downwardly through one of the apertures 16 in the disc 28 and into stationary priming container. This action causes the primer composition in that aperture 16 of the disc 28 to be pushed out of the aperture into the primer container. At a point just before the projection 130 reaches its bottom position, the valve 152 will be opened so that a small puff of fluid such as air will flow through the bores 146 and 148 in the body member 120 and projection 130 to ensure that the priming composition does not stick to the end of the projection 130.

The needle-like projection 130 of the discharge mechanism 118 has a diameter substantially equal to the smaller diameter of the frusto-conical apertures 16 in the disc 28. The end of the projection 130 is tapered. The projection 130 is so positioned that the leading edge 156 of the taper enters the aperture at the point which is last to leave the discharge station. This point is indicated by 158 in FIG. 2. This point of the aperture is also the point which last leaves the extrusion orifice or feeding station.

This feature has been found to enhance the discharge operation. It is theorized that the priming composition, which is constantly being extruded, is more compacted at point 158 in the aperture 16 due to the movement of the disc 28 relative to the grommet 20 and pressure foot 36 and is also pressed against the side wall more tightly. There appears to be a tendency for the priming composition to cling to the bottom edge at this point and hinge about the bottom of the disc 28 and stick thereto as the projection 130 passes down through the aperture in the disc 28. If the leading edge of the tapered projection engages the priming composition first at this point, this hinging effect is prevented.

The present method and apparatus is used with any priming composition which can be extruded. The wet mixture used in todays conventional priming composition consists of fairly dense crystalline and granular solids moistened with water. These mixtures can be described as claylike in character, and attempts to enhance fluidity by addition of more water result in a solid-liquid phase separation, and the mass of solids, though still wet, becomes less fluid. However, if instead of additional water, or other low viscosity medium, the priming mixture is wetted with a viscous medium, such as a high viscosity aqueous gum dispersion, phase separation cannot occur because the solid particles are imbedded in the gel and cannot settle out.

Substances which cannot be used as a vehicle in which to suspend solid priming particles are those that desensitize the priming and cannot be removed from the composition by evaporation or other simple means after the priming composition is installed in a primer container. However, a suitable gel can be made by dispersing a small amount of a suitable vegetable gum, or hydrophyllic synthetic polymer, inwater. When solid priming particles are added to it, the mixture can be pumped, and after it is deposited in a primer container, the water can be evaporated leaving a small percentage of the solid gum with the solid priming ingredients. The solid gum residue does not detract from the sensitivity and ballistic performance of the priming composition and it also serves as an adhesive to bind the particles of priming together. Obviously, it is essential to choose a gum or polymer that yields a suitable gel and is chemically and physically compatible with the priming ingredients.

It is thought that with the above technique, it is possible to take virtually any existing wet priming mixture and adapt it to an extrusion process by adding the proper type and quantity of gum to it. A typical extrudable priming composition would contain about 15 to 25 percent by weight of water and 78 to percent by weight of solid priming particles. The gum used to confer plasticity to the mixture is added in the amount of about 0.5 percent to 3 percent by weight of the dry solids.

With priming mixtures of the above type, the interstitial voids are filled with the gum gel and the mass is a homogeneous hydraulic medium free of voids or air. It is essential to fill the interstitial voids with gel in order to attain a continuous liquid medium. The addition of more water, beyond that required to fill the interstitial voids is tolerable and enhances the fluidity of the mix and ease of operation. However, a large excess of water is undesirable since it has a diluting effect and would 9 add to the porosity of the dried priming composition. The water-solids ratio from batch to batch must be held reasonably constant to avoid charge weight variation because of a varying dilution effect.

For specific examples of some of the pn'mingcompositions that can be extruded, reference may be made to my U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,259, issued Jan. 21, 1969. Generally that patent discloses compositions which include at least percent by weight of dry materials of a primary explosive and any balance, depending upon the application, being up to percent by weight of a combustible fuel, up to percent by weight of a frictionator, and up to 60 percent by weight of an oxidizing agent. Thegum used in making the gel is Karaya gum which may be partially deacetylated and is present in amounts preferably between 0.5 percent and 3 percent by weight of the total dry ingredients. The water content is about 20 to 25 percent by weight.

In operation the crankshaft 58 is continuously driven by a suitable motor through the pulley and belt arrangement 60. At the same time, the pneumatic pump 12 continually applies pressure on the priming composition in the container 4 and forces it through the bore 10 out of the extrusion orifice 26. The spinning punch 160 of the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 is also continually driven by a suitable motor (not shown) connected thereto by a means of a pulley and belt arrangement 162. Primer containers are continuously fed tothe carrier mechanism 52 by means of a suitable feeding mechanism 164, only partially shown.

Assuming that the crankshaft is rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, and has just passed top dead center, the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 will be on its downward stroke. Also assuming that the apparatus has been in continuous operation, a

primer container having a pellet of priming composition deposited therein will be positioned in the spinning and pressing; station, underthe spinning punch 160, while an empty primer container will be positioned beneath an aperture 16 in the disc 28 at the discharge station, that aperture having a charge of priming compositiontherein. An empty aperture 16 in the disc 28 will be positioned over the extrusion orifice 26 and the pawl 96 will be in engagement with a cutout 100 in the disc 28 to properly align the disc 28 with the extrusion orifice 26 and the discharge station.

As the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 moves downward, the pump will extrude the priming composi tion into the aperture 16 in the disc member 28 which is positioned over orifice 26. As the walls of this aperture define a set volume, a predetermined amount of priming composition will be contained in the aperture. With continued downward movement of the spinning and pressing mechanism 56, the discharge mechanism 118 will be engaged by the striker 156 which will force the needle-like projection 130 through the aperture 16 which is positioned at the discharge station, pushing the priming composition in that aperture into the primer container below it. When the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 engages the linkage attached to the valve member 154, the valve will open and a small puff of air will pass through the needle-like projection 130 to ensure that the priming composition is stripped from the projection and drops into the primer container.

As the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 moves downward, the spinning punch 160 enters the primer container and distributes the priming composition into the cavity in the rim of the cartridge case.

After the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 has begun its upward movement, the lever arm 82, which was being pivoted clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, begins to pivot counterclockwise and the pawl member 84 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 76 causing the carrier mechanism 52 to rotate counterclockwise on space to index new primer containers into the various stations. At the same time, the enlarged cam portion 118 acts on the linkages connecting it with the pawl 96 and causes the pawl 96 to move out of the cutout 100 in the disc 28. Due to the meshing of gear 74 of the carrier mechanism 52 with the pinion 32, the disc 28 rotates one space to align an aperture 16 having priming composition therein with an empty shell at the discharge station as well as to align an empty aperture 16 with the extrusion orifice 26. r I

After the crankshaft 58 has passed top dead center, the spinning and pressing mechanism 56 begins its downward movement and the above cycle isrepeated again with a fresh charge of priming composition being deposited in an empty primer container, and a new charge of priming composition being positioned in an empty aperture 16 in the disc 28 while the disc 28 is at rest. Also, while the disc 28 and carrier mechanism 52 are at rest, the primer composition in the primer container is distributed.

With the above method and apparatus, and using a plastic extrudable priming composition as described, it is possible to greatly alleviate variation in the charge weights of priming composition in primer containers. Greater handling safety is also provided by this invention as the priming composition is housed in a container and is also prevented by drying due to exposure to air. Moreover, the automated priming composition charging system is capable of greater productivity than convention processes.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising:

a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice;

b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice;

c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means;

(1. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means;

e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and

f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection, means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container, and means for discharging air from the end of said projection after it has passed through the aperture.

2. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising:

a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice;

b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice;

0. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a. primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means;

d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means;

e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and

f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection, means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container, the end of said projection being tapered with the leading edge of the taper positioned to enter the aperture at the point of the aperture which corresponds to the point which last passed the orifice.

3. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising:

a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice;

b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice;

c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means;

d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means, said aperture being frustoconical with the largest diameter thereof being at said one end which communicates with said aperture;

e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and

f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection and means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elongated projection has a circular cross section substantially 5 equal to the diameter of the other end of said aperture.

5. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising:

a. extrusion means for extruding the priming composition through an orifice including a resilient grommet mounted in a cavity in an extrusion block, said grommet having a bore therethrough forming the orifice;

b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice;

c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including a rotatable disc having at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means, a portion of said disc being substantially flush with the surface of the block surrounding the grommet;

d. means holding the disc so that said disc plates said grommet under compression;

e. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means;

f. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and

g. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position.

6. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising:

a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice;

b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice;

c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving the predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means;

l3 14 d. means for moving said transfer means between a against said transfer means in a position covering first position where one end of said aperture comsaid other end of said aperture; and municates with said orifice and a second position f. means for causing the discharge of the priming where said aperture is in alignment with a primer composition from said transfer means into the container on said supporting means; 5 primer container when said transfer means is in e. means for closing the other end of said aperture said second position.

when said one end communicates with said orifice 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for as said priming mix is extruded, said means for closing the other end of said aperture further includes closing including a pressure pad of a material to means to vary the pressure the pad exerts against said which the priming composition has a low propen- 1() transfer means.

sity to adhere and spring means for urging said pad 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,820,578 Dated June '28, 1974 Inventor-(s) Edward A. Staba It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Col. 1, line 17, after "therein" please insert "filled-s;

In Col. 2, line 49, please substitute "priming" for spring- In Col. 10, line 8, please delete "on" and insert --one- 7 In C01, 12., line '39, please delete "plates" and insert --place-s--.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising: a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice; b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice; c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means; d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means; e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection, means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container, and means for discharging air from the end of said projection after it has passed through the aperture.
 2. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising: a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice; b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice; c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means; d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means; e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection, means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container, the end of said projection being tapered with the leading edge of the taper positioned to enter the aperture at the point of the aperture which corresponds to the point which last passed the orifice.
 3. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising: a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice; b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice; c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means; d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means, said aperture being frustoconical with the largest diameter thereof being at said one end which communicates with said aperture; e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position; said means for causing the discharge of the priming composition including an elongated projection and means for moving the elongated projection through the aperture to cause the priming composition to dislodge from the aperture into the priming container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elongated projection has a circular cross section substantially equal to the diameter of the other end of said aperture.
 5. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising: a. extrusion means for extruding the priming composition through an orifice including a resilient grommet mounted in a cavity in an extrusion block, said grommet having a bore therethrough forming the orifice; b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice; c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including a rotatable disc having at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving a predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means, a portion of Said disc being substantially flush with the surface of the block surrounding the grommet; d. means holding the disc so that said disc plates said grommet under compression; e. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means; f. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded; and g. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position.
 6. An apparatus for the automatic charging of primer containers with a plastic extrudable priming composition, said apparatus comprising: a. extrusion means including an orifice for extruding the priming composition through the orifice; b. supporting means for supporting a primer container at a position remote from said orifice; c. transfer means for transferring a predetermined volume of the priming composition from said extrusion means to a point adjacent a primer container on said supporting means, said transfer means including at least one priming composition receiving aperture therethrough for receiving the predetermined volume of priming composition from said extrusion means; d. means for moving said transfer means between a first position where one end of said aperture communicates with said orifice and a second position where said aperture is in alignment with a primer container on said supporting means; e. means for closing the other end of said aperture when said one end communicates with said orifice as said priming mix is extruded, said means for closing including a pressure pad of a material to which the priming composition has a low propensity to adhere and spring means for urging said pad against said transfer means in a position covering said other end of said aperture; and f. means for causing the discharge of the priming composition from said transfer means into the primer container when said transfer means is in said second position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for closing the other end of said aperture further includes means to vary the pressure the pad exerts against said transfer means. 